Poppy Appeal 2020 Launched In Spain
In bright autumn sunshine, the 2020 Poppy Appeal Launch took place on 16th October.
As usual, it was held in Benidorm, but owing to current restrictions, instead of the usual Parade of Standards and speeches, it was marked by holding a shorter ceremony behind closed doors.
The current situation doesn’t mean that The Royal British Legion in Spain has closed down. Far from it! We have been busier than ever supporting veterans and their families who find themselves in need.
The money donated, either throughout the year or now during Remembrancetide, is vital to that effort. The money raised is spent here in Spain on caring for our beneficiaries, so please continue contributing to the Poppy Appeal wherever and however you can.
In our short Act of Remembrance in the Oscar Esplá Amphitheatre, wreaths were laid by:
- Brigadier Lisa Keetley, the senior Army officer in Spain, currently serving in the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Headquarters in Valencia.
- Mrs Sara Munsterhjelm, British Vice Consul in Alicante and Mr Jim Thomson, Chairman of Benidorm Branch of The Royal British Legion
- Don Antonio Pérez, Mayor of Benidorm and Mr Don Cubbon, Chairman of District North Spain of The Royal British Legion
The Trumpet Player was Mr Alwyn Pollendine of The Royal British Legion Band, Spain and our Piper was Mr Donald Mark of the Torrevieja Pipes and Drums.
You can find details of how to contact us on our website (http://counties.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/spain-north), where you can also find details of how we may be able to help you if you need our support.
We also have a GO FUND ME PAGE for this year’s Poppy Appeal https://es.gofundme.com/f/poppy-appeal-district-north-spain.
Every cent or euro you can spare really counts and makes a huge difference to the lives of veterans old and young here in Spain and their families, so thank you once again for your generosity in supporting them through the Poppy Appeal 2020.
For anyone requiring assistance from The Royal British Legion Spain (North) please contact The District Community Support Officer Pam Twissell-Cross.
Despite COVID-19, the RBL is working hard with volunteers to ensure that the nation comes together to show its support for our Armed Forces Community during this year’s Poppy Appeal.
Due to COVID restrictions, this year will be different from other years and the RBL will be calling on the public to still take part and wear their Poppies with pride to make sure the Poppy Appeal is as successful as always.
There will be more ways than ever before for people to support the Poppy Appeal, some of which are new for 2020. These will include buying a Poppy in your local supermarket or wherever you can, making donations online, supporting the Costa Cálida Chronicle Poppy Appeal and doing your own fundraising with family and friends.
The Poppy Appeal was founded to help those in need following a National Crisis. The RBL is helping those who are isolated from family, facing homelessness, struggling to feed their children and those who are in financial crisis.
The Poppy Appeal needs you!
There are exciting and easy things you can do to fundraise and support your local Poppy Appeal during these difficult times, from baking 11 cupcakes, doing a sponsored run, knit 11 poppies for 11 friends – the choices are endless! Many events that would normally have taken place in October and November, have had to be cancelled due to social distancing measures. You could choose to run, jog or walk and maybe take your four-legged friend along too. You could run in a park after work, run around town during the weekend, or spend time on a treadmill in the morning. Get family and friends involved and raise funds to ensure no-one who has served in the forces is disadvantaged because of the sacrifices they have made. You will be joining a community of runners doing their part to support the Poppy Appeal during these difficult times.
There are various ways in which you can support the Poppy Appeal from your own home:
The Poppy Shop at https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/ has an extensive range of products, from iconic Poppy pins and jewellery, to clothing, scarves, stationery, homeware and everything in between.
100% of the profits from the Poppy Shop go to the RBL. By shopping online at the Poppy Shop during the Poppy Appeal 2020, you are helping us to provide vital services and support, from expert guidance and advice, to recovery and rehabilitation.
The RBL is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and complies with the key principles embodied in their Fundraising Promise.
The Poppy Appeal has been going for nearly 100 years as we have been fighting for the Armed Forces community. The RBL has worked tirelessly to ensure that those who have served and made sacrifices for us, along with their families, are being looked after, no matter what challenges the country faces.
No one should have to walk the road to recovery alone.
Together we are unstoppable.
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae
In Flanders fields the Poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
WE SHALL NOT SLEEP,
THOUGH POPPIES GROW
IN FLANDERS FIELDS.
The day before he wrote “In Flanders Fields”, one of John’s closest friends was killed and buried in a grave decorated with only a simple wooden cross. Wild Poppies were already blooming between the crosses that marked the graves of those who were killed in battle. Unable to help his friend or other fallen soldiers, John McCrae gave them a voice through In Flanders Fields.
The Costa Cálida Chronicle has been supporting the RBL Poppy Appeal for a number of years and have raised in excess of 12,000€ over this time. We would like to thank the following advertisers and groups for supporting our RBL Poppy Appeal 2020:
- 247Locksmithspain’
- Airpark Murcia
- Another World Properties Blacktower Bolnuevo Cars
- Camposol Cleaning Co
- Camposol Golf Camposol Property Sales
- Car Registrations Spain Chatterbox CHM
- Colour Glass Tint
- Cruising with Mike Smith
- Currencies Direct
- Curtain Call
- Dragon Build
- Energy Nordic
- Eriks
- Free Sol
- Friends of FAST
- Fuente Old Guards Golf Society
- Furniture Plus
- Greenfingers
- Healthy H20
- HR Insurance
- IBEX
- Iphones
- Jim Scott (on behalf of B Clean)
- Karalees
- Ken Sherwood
- Kevins Flyscreens
- Kruger Canopies
- Kwikfix
- Locksmith Murcia
- Los Amigos Golf Society
- Los Palacios Gardening Group
- Los Reyes Golf
- Mass in English
- Mazarron Bowls
- MCC Golf
- Olive Branch Christian Fellowship
- Open Door
- PALS
- Paul the Plumber
- Pinturas Acosta
- Prime Property
- Puerto Lumbreras Church
- Rainbow Satellites
- Rhys Brightman
- Salt Church
- Silvana Buxton – Councillor for Camposol
- Solar Light Centre
- Sooty & Son
- St Nicholas Church
- Straight Down The Middle Golf
- The Rockin Vicar
- The Salon
- The Tech Shop
- Top2Toe
- Watermaid
- Welcome House
- XLR Radio